more xc schooling!

Our little barn group went xc schooling again at Tranquility last week! We had considered going somewhere new... but couldn't decide where. Tranquility is the least expensive, plus they apparently had mowed a fresh field and filled up the water. So whatevs, we just went back there (it's super close too, always a bonus).

what's with the side eye, isabel?

Of the six of us, five were preparing for events over the weekend. B and I obviously for Waredaca, and the other three for Plantation. One day we'll get all our ducks in a row to show together too - but for now schooling together is plenty fun. 

we were out until dusk - the lighting was very pretty

The horses were again in excellent form. There's a video of everything, but I didn't bother segmenting out Isabel's and my individual efforts. We started in this long narrow field FULL of jumps - everything from intro through novice and one or two that may have been training. All of the horses were going every which way - back and forth and all over whenever wherever. The poor kiddos trying to take video didn't have a clue where to point the camera lol.

It's cool tho - the video captures the atmosphere well, imo. It just looks like a bunch of horse and rider pairs out having a good time, exactly what it was! Sadly most of my really fun stuff got missed. Nbd tho. 

run isabel runnnn!!!

I kept things pretty light for Isabel, and she was fine. We jumped all around that field (tho on the drive out I saw a few more things I wished I had jumped...) then moved on to the water. I tried a new tactic of trotting right in - no walking or halting! And it mostly worked, tho I may have cheated by circling around so she at least got her eyes on it. 

fine with banks into water

After getting into the water once or twice that way I tried cantering through to the jump right after the water. Isabel was a tad sticky but jumped anyway. We went through again (in the gif below) and all was well. I am starting to believe the water itself doesn't bother her - it's just new and unfamiliar water. She's fine in our streams at home, fine in the water at Olney - and obviously fine after a pass or two through Tranquility. 

why we didn't try this at waredaca is a mystery to me

So I'm not entirely sure what to do. The obvious answer seems to be presenting her with more and more new water - and expecting her to just trot right in and maintain impulsion. And I am SERIOUSLY kicking myself for not even trying the water at Waredaca.... Ugh I need to remember my priorities here! Getting through the finish line doesn't matter if we still have penalties at the water each time - needs work!!

not a very big jump out of the water - but good enough for practicing the question

But really she was a very good girl on this schooling. We strung a few things together here and there, and she helped pony a few other horses around. Generally she was just very enjoyable to ride. We jumped some competition sized stuff and worked on our water issues, and all was well. So we left it at that. 

video here

What a good mare! I wish we had cross country jumps at our own farm haha :)